Despite opening the series with a pair of wins at home, the Detroit Tigers will have their backs against the wall on Thursday night in Oakland in the fifth and final game of the series.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland will give the ball to star right-hander Justin Verlander for his team's first elimination game of the postseason, as the former MVP winner will take on a slightly different lineup than the one his teammate Max Scherzer faced on Wednesday. To make room for shifting slugger Seth Smith to the cleanup spot, the Athletics moved first baseman Brandon Moss down to No. 6 in their order to face Verlander.
Against Oakland righty Jarrod Parker, Detroit will open with nearly the same starting nine it used in Wednesday's Game 4 loss. Aside from shifting Andy Dirks to the No. 7 spot and bumping Jhonny Peralta to No. 6, Leyland opted to stick with speedy outfielder Quintin Berry in the No. 2 hole to close out the series.
Here are Thursday's starting lineups:
Tigers
1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Quintin Berry LF
3. Miguel Cabrera
4. Prince Fielder 1B
5. Delmon Young DH
6. Jhonny Peralta SS
7. Andy Dirks RF
8. Alex Avila C
9. Omar Infante 2B
Justin Verlander SP
Athletics
1. Coco Crisp CF
2. Stephen Drew SS
3. Yoenis Cespedes LF
4. Seth Smith DH
5. Josh Reddick RF
6. Josh Donaldson 3B
7. Brandon Moss 1B
8. Derek Norris C
9. Cliff Pennington 2B
Jarrod Parker SP